INTRODUCTION

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The Interdistrict Public School Choice Program (school choice program) was created by the New Jersey legislature in January 2000 as a five-year pilot program designed to explore whether public school choice would provide a viable educational option for New Jersey students and their families by offering flexibility in selecting a public school program that best meets the needs of  an individual student. Since the expiration of the pilot in 2005, the New Jersey Department of Education (department) has maintained the program at the same level as it had achieved at that time. In June 2010, the legislature established a permanent Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.  Under the school choice program, interested New Jersey school districts apply to become choice districts, opening seats into which they will accept non-resident students at the expense of the state.

The pilot program limited the establishment of choice districts to one per county.  In the first six choice district application periods, the department selected a total of sixteen choice districts from among those districts that had submitted competitive applications. (One district, Belvidere in Warren County, withdrew from the program at the end of the pilot). Ten choice districts were selected for the first year of the program with students enrolling for the first time for the 2000-2001 school year;  one additional district was selected for the second year of the program with students enrolling for the first time for the 2001-2002 school year; two additional districts were selected for the third year of the program with students enrolling for the first time for the 2002-2003 school year; one additional district was selected for the fourth year of the program with students enrolling for the first time in the 2003-2004 school year; one additional district was selected for the fifth year of the program with students enrolling for the first time for the 2004-2005 school year and one additional district was selected for the sixth year of the program with students enrolling for the first time in the 2005-2006 school year.

There are 71 school districts approved as choice districts for the 2012-2013 school year.  A list of these districts by county may be found at:
http://www.nj.gov/education/choice/districts/

Under the newly enacted Interdistrict Public School Choice Program Act, the opportunity to become a choice district is now open to all LEAs in the state.  Applications must be received by the Commissioner no later than April 30 in the year prior to the school year in which the choice program will be implemented. 

For an application to become a Choice district, please send a request to:  pschoice@doe.state.nj.us.